Attempted abduction reported on U of M campus

A University of Minnesota student told police she was the victim of an attempted kidnapping early Wednesday near the intersection of Oak Street and University Avenue SE., on the eastern border of the Minneapolis campus.

The woman reported that she was walking alone on University Avenue near TCF Bank Stadium when two men pulled up in a dark blue sedan about 12:10 a.m. The passenger asked if she needed help, and, when she declined, he got out.

“The suspect grabbed the victim by the arm and pulled her toward the vehicle,” the university said in a crime alert Wednesday. “When the victim tried to defend herself with pepper spray, the suspect pushed her to the ground and used the pepper spray on the victim. The victim screamed and the suspects drove away eastbound on University Avenue.”

This incident comes just three days after a reported rape not far from the campus, west of Interstate 35W, involving an attacker posing as a police officer, and other recent incidents prompting similar crime alerts in the university area.

In Wednesday’s incident, the passenger was described as black with a medium complexion, 20 to 25 years old, about 6 foot 2 to 6 foot 4, with a medium build. He wore a black knit stocking cap and a black puffy jacket. The driver’s description wasn’t available. Anyone with information is asked to call the Minneapolis police tip line at 612-692-8477 and reference case number MP-13-394848.

“In this incident and in a number of recent incidents that have prompted Crime Alerts, the victims were walking alone after dark,” campus police said in the alert.